Cape Town has been handed a fitting finale. After two Tests that produced emphatic victories for opposing sides, South Africa and Australia arrive at Newlands with the series balanced at 1-1 and everything to play for from Tuesday.

The Proteas’ innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha transformed the contest after their 214-run defeat in Durban. Having faced the prospect of losing the series with a match to spare, Temba Bavuma’s side now have the opportunity to complete the turnaround at home.

That opportunity was earned from a position of considerable trouble. South Africa were 110-6 in the second Test before Bavuma’s career-best 179, supported by Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer, carried them to 425-9 declared.

The recovery should offer encouragement, but it also leaves a clear task for the top order at Newlands. South Africa cannot plan on their captain and lower order rescuing another innings against an attack of Australia’s quality.

Bavuma’s contribution went beyond the size of his score. By batting long enough to change the conditions of the contest, he gave his bowlers a total from which to attack. Jansen’s 85 and Harmer’s 82 ensured that Australia’s early advantage became a substantial deficit.

The bowlers then made that advantage count. Jansen took 5-33 as Australia were dismissed for 99, before Kagiso Rabada claimed four wickets in the follow-on innings to help force the decider.

Both will be central to South Africa’s hopes in Cape Town, although the attack must change. Anrich Nortje has been ruled out with a groin injury, leaving Gerald Coetzee, Dane Paterson and Corbin Bosch among the available seam options.

The selection will reveal how South Africa intend to approach conditions at Newlands. Another quick would preserve their seam-heavy combination, while the availability of Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy gives them room to consider a different balance alongside Harmer.

Australia, meanwhile, have their own response to make. Their batting came under renewed scrutiny after Gqeberha, with Cameron Green’s expected return and the possibility of moving Matt Renshaw up the order adding intrigue to their preparations.

The visitors’ victory in Durban is enough reason for South Africa to guard against assuming that the momentum will carry over. Each side has already shown how decisively it can take control, and neither has established superiority in the series.

For the Cape Town crowd, that makes the final Test an appealing prospect. The home side have recovered their position, their captain arrives after a defining innings, and Australia have an immediate chance to answer a heavy defeat.

Gqeberha earned the Proteas another opportunity. At Newlands, they must turn it into a series win.